Helping flood affectees: WHO hands over medicines to Balochistan government 

News Desk

QUETTA: Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala of World Health Organization (WHO)’s head in Pakistan, handed over medicines and other equipment worth over 800 million dollars to the health department of the Balochistan government for preventing cholera in rain-hit areas of the province.

The medicine and equipment were distributed to the flood affected by the cholera epidemic as well as the newly constructed Covid-19 vaccination center at the Pak-Afghan Chaman border.

Equipment, supplies and furniture were handed over to the chief secretary of Balochistan, on Monday.  On the occasion, Secretary Health Saleh Muhammad Nasir, Deputy Commissioner Quetta Shahak Baloch, Director General Health Services Balochistan Dr Noor Ahmad Qazi, Dr Lubni Khalil, Provincial Coordinator Dr. Akhtar Buledi, DHO Dr Noor Bizenjo, officials of WHO, UNICEF and EPI were also present.

Talking to journalists, Dr Mahipala was talking to journalists on the occasion of the inauguration cholera vaccination campaign in 37 Union councils of 18 districts, he explained that by drinking clean water, washing hands with soap, and eating well-cooked food, cholera could be prevented from spreading in flood-affected areas of Balochistan. The cholera vaccine was being given to children for the first time in Pakistan and was inaugurated on Monday in Balochistan.

Dr Mahipala visited the provincial office of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) during his visit to Quetta and received information about the arrangements for the flood and cholera outbreak.   He praised the efforts of the Government of Balochistan, especially the health department for the measures taken in the recent epidemics and flood situations for timely and effective actions in the affected areas and to save precious human lives. He also assured the continuation of all possible cooperation from the WHO.

Dr Mahipala said that the efforts of the Health Secretary, DG Health and their team to control the cholera epidemic in Balochistan are proving valuable and the cholera vaccine campaign is being started in 8 districts.

He further added that providing clean water to the people in Balochistan is a priority as this would help prevent cholera outbreaks. More than 800 million dollars worth of medicines, tents and other equipment are being handed over to the Health Department of the Balochistan government by WHO which would help prevent epidemics.

Talking to the journalists on this occasion, Chief Secretary Balochistan Abdul Aziz Uqaili thanked WHO on behalf of the Balochistan government for its timely support at all levels.  He briefed that along with extraordinary cooperation, including technical support during the Covid-19 outbreak and vaccination, full cooperation during the cholera outbreak in Dera Bugti, Quetta, Khuzdar, Zhob, Harnai and Mastung, oral cholera vaccination (OCV) prioritizing Balochistan for the campaign.

He said that measures were being taken to enhance the capacity of relevant departments in order to ensure provision of relief to affectees people in rain and flood-hit areas including rural areas and the Pak-Afghan Chaman border (Dosti Gate) through establishment of a corona vaccination center, medical equipment for health centers in border districts bearing the burden of refugees, supply of equipment, furniture, medicines, renovation, provision of solarization, construction of model health RHC in Khanuzai and Mizai Adda.

He said that steps were being taken  for supply of motorbikes for TB program for all districts, provincial TB program, monitoring vehicles for Qila Abdullah district, provision of ambulance for ten (10) districts, provision of medicines for medical camp for forest fire victims in Shirani district, investigation and management of dengue outbreak in Kech (Turbat) to enhance the capacity of human resources in health care.

Provincial Secretary Health Saleh Muhammad Nasir also thanked WHO for their technical assistance to the Health Department of Pakistan and for upgrading the Public Health Lab (PHL) and BMCH Lab for epidemiological and natural diseases.  He also requested support for setting up an Emergency Preparedness and Response Center (EPRC) unit in the Provincial Health Directorate for disasters and setting up effective monitoring mechanisms.

With additional input from APP